News : Church21

Church21 Team Together Day - The Emmaus Conference Centre

Representatives from 12 parishes gathered together on Saturday 12th February 2011 for the Church21 Team Together Day. This was the first official event for the parishes that have signed up for the third programme of parish development. The day was about getting to know one another and laying out the foundations for the Church21 journey.

The day was packed with good speakers starting with Paul Hoey giving participants an understanding of the Church21 process. The process strives to help parishes to develop a clearer vision of what God wants each parish to be and to do for Him in our rapidly changing world and then to enable each parish to take steps to turn that vision into reality. The first building block of the Church21 programme is the preparation course which was introduced to parishes to give them an idea of what the course should do and how it can be used by parishes. Each parish received a copy of the preparation course but it is also available to download from the website.

Bishop Ken Good gave a biblical picture of an expectant church with the four ‘A’s – affirmation, allegation, agreement and assurance. David Thompson gave a PowerPoint presentation on “Change we can believe in – what lies at the heart of Church21”. This gave an insight into the steps around change – its about creating awareness, giving understanding, evaluating what we do in terms of new realities uncovered, experimenting in small ways and cementing change. This is less about developing new programmes but more about developing a whole new way of thinking and being in our parishes. It’s a process rather than an event, its learning through experience, taking on new ways of being the church and encouraging new habits, norms and culture.

The facilitation process is a large part of Church21 and Carolyn O’Laoire, a member of the Parish Development Working Group Committee and facilitator, outlined how parishes can make the best use of their facilitators, the role of a facilitator, the parish team’s role and the skills needed for the facilitation process.

The final sessions were on overcoming hurdles that parishes can encounter and the team talk given by Bishop Ken Clarke. The day finished up with time for chat and fellowship over lunch.

Here are some of the participant’s comments:

“A marvellous inspirational day – thank you!”

“Excellent speakers, very worthwhile.”

“A thought provoking day and possibly defining the role that Christ has opened for me.”

Posted on 11 Apr 11

Categories: • 0 Comments • Permanent link

Twelve Parishes Join Church21 Programme 3

The third Church21 Programme is now underway with twelve parishes joining the process. Whilst not every diocese is represented, we are delighted to be working with a diverse group of churches. It is our prayer that as these parishes and their facilitators journey together, they will be enriched by each others’ experiences and together discover God’s vision for their parish and community.

Clogher

Cleenish
Mullaghdun

Connor

St. Michael’s, Belfast

Cork

Bandon Union
Carrigaline Union

Down and Dromore

Drumgath and Drumgooland

Dublin and Glendalough

Killiskey
Tullow

Kilmore, Elphin & Ardagh

Kinawley and Holy Trinity

Meath and Kildare

Mountmellick
St Patrick’s Cathedral, Trim
Tullamore Union

Posted on 4 Apr 11

Categories: • 0 Comments • Permanent link

Church21 Taster Day

Delegates from 13 parishes across Ireland gathered in Dublin on Saturday 6th November 2010 to hear presentations about the Church21 programme. The day was presented by Paul Hoey, Chairman of the working group and Bishop Ken Clarke. It started with a Biblical Picture of a Developing Church which was presented by Bishop Ken Clarke. Paul Hoey outlined the stages of Church21 and what is involved in the process.

One of the parishes who had taken part in the previous Church21 programme, Derg & Termonamongan, shared their experiences of their Church21 journey. This gave parishes a real insight as to what can be achieved and gave them time for discussion and questions.

Applications for the third programme must be with the diocesan Bishops by Friday 3 December and forms may be obtained from the administrator by emailing brigid@church21.org

Posted on 24 Nov 10

Categories: • 0 Comments • Permanent link

Church21 Follow Up Day

Over 80 people gathered in All Hallows College on Saturday 19th June for the Church21 Follow up day. The aim of the day was to give participants the motivation to keep moving ahead and also to share some of the progress that has been made already, whether big or small.

Rev Adrian Wilkinson, rector of Douglas Parish, from the first Church21 programme, shared about life after Church21 and how they’ve been able to continue journeying forward – the steps the parish has taken and achieved, the set backs and the lasting effect of Church21.

Parishes brought along their ‘road signs’ sharing their thoughts on where they are on their journey and the steps it has taken to get there. This exercise created a great buzz and lots of discussion between parishes. It was a chance to share ideas, swap resources and encourage each other. It was also an opportunity to share something of their journey with each other, in a spirit of encouragement rather than competition. But above all, an opportunity to come together to continue to discern the way ahead with God.

Some consideration was given on how to overcome obstacles that can block a parish’s spiritual development including exercises to encourage continuing motivation within parishes. Finally, some resource ideas were shared varying from websites to books to conferences. The day finished up with time for fellowship and chat over lunch.

Here are some of the participant’s comments:

It was so helpful to exchange views and ideas with other parishes.

Encouraging discovering many others faced similar issues and were only taking small steps.

This programme has lit a candle in our parishes, we pray God will enable us to keep it burning brightly.

Church21 has brought me back to church by getting involved, I feel more a part of the church and want to face the challenges.

Posted on 19 Jun 10

Categories: • 0 Comments • Permanent link

Church21 Newsletter

If you haven’t already seen a copy, you can download the latest issue of the Church21 newsletter by clicking the following link:

Issue 3 – Dec09

Posted on 16 Dec 09

Categories: • 0 Comments • Permanent link

A successful second Church21 Conference

The second Parish Development Conference has taken place in Dublin and was judged to be a great success by all who attended.

St Patrick’s College in Dublin was full as 112 delegates from the 25 participating parishes gathered plus a 38 strong team of contributors, facilitators, visitors, musicians and committee members, not to mention the audio/video man!

It was a packed programme with keynote speaker, Rev Ian Coffey, anchoring each session and others, such as Bishops Ken Clarke and Ken Good, contributing on the theme. There were exercises for the parish teams to complete and a little time to discuss what had been shared from the front. On Saturday afternoon delegates were offered a selection of practical workshops and had the chance to attend 2 each.

But it wasn’t all about learning. Worship was a key element in the Conference and we gathered in the College Chapel to express our worship in several different ways: Taize, Iona, Wordless Worship, vibrant praise with the Wicklow Gospel Choir on Saturday evening and a service of Holy Communion to finish on Sunday morning.

Nor did we miss out on the chance to ‘chill out’ as each evening ended with time to relax and chat in the student lounge over a glass of wine and a few nibbles.

Here’s what some of the participants said:

I would like to say a big ‘thank you’ for the weekend you put together. It was engaging, encouraging, envisioning and a lot more besides.

The whole atmosphere was wonderful, we were thoroughly spoilt, and it was very inspiring, We all went home full of enthusiasm and now we have to dissect and work out where we go from here.

It was a fantastic conference, superbly prepared and lovingly delivered. Thank you all very much indeed for giving so much.

And from a facilitator:

The parish that I am facilitating this time around went away talking about how they could bring home to the rest of the parish “ the buzz” they encountered at the weekend!